Hand operating control for draft regulators



May 15, 1934. c. H. MORROW HAND OPERATING CONTROL FOR DRAFT REGULATORS Filed April 6, 1933 IN VENTOR (Zn/raver E NO/PFOW ATTO E Y5 Patented May 15, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAND OPERATING CONTROL FOR DRAFT REGULATORS Application April 6, 1933, Serial No. 664,793

13 Claims.

This invention relates to means for temporarily closing otherwise automatic draft control dampers. In such a draft regulator the shutter has associated weights whereby its opening and closing draft-controlling adjustment is automatic, and with carefully predetermined charactcristics; and such automatic action is the usual one of the damper. However, under certain temporary conditions, such as during a firing period, it is necessary that the shutter be closed. Usually the regulator is not located for convenient direct adjusting access.

Objects of this invention are therefore to provide for closing of the damper by the operator from a removed location when desired. The shutter is mounted upon a sloping axis, at the end of an air inlet pipe; and various installation conditions require that the device be mountable with the axis sloping in either of the two possible directions. A further object of the invention is to provide that the described adjustment may be had regardless of the direction of slope and Without any alteration to the device itself other than its mere installation.

Further objects are to accomplish the described results by simple, inexpensive, and reliable means.

The exact nature of this invention together with further objects and advantages thereof will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figs. 1 and 2 are end assembly views of left and right hand installations of embodiments of the invention, the parts in Fig. 1 being shown positioned for automatic damper operation and.

I the parts in Fig. 2 being shown positioned to close the shutter; Fig. 3 is an enlarged front elevation of parts of the adjusting means appearing in Figs. 1 and 2, as in the position of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the damperactuating parts as in the central plane of Fig. 3.

With reference now to the drawing the principal parts of the damper are an annular base 1 and a shutter 2 adapted to close the opening thereof.

The base 1, preferably a casting as indicated, is adapted to fit within the mouth at the end of the pipe through which flow is to be controlled, as by set screws turned into the threaded openings in bosses 3 peripherally spaced about the base.

The shutter 2, which may preferably be of sheet metal as indicated, reinforced as by a nondiametrical rib 4, is mounted for free swinging movement about an axis in the plane of the base, in one direction from said plane. The axis of swing as indicated by the lines A-A, Figs. 1 and 2,

is nondiametrical and preferably adjacent the rib 4, and further details of the exact arrangement by which the shutter is mounted are immaterial here. The shutter thus has along side B and a short side C extending from the axis. That the long side B may swing inwardly only, from the plane of the base 1, while the short side C may swing outwardly only therefrom, the base is provided with a flange 5 overlying the side B and a flange 6 underlying the side C. The shutter is preferably weighted by means not shown and forming no part of this invention, to give it predetermined opening and closing characteristics, provided the axis A--A have the proper slope. That this slope may be accurately attained when mounting the device, the front face of the base 1 is provided with indexing indicia as indicated Figs. 1 and 2.

As appears from these figures there are two sets of indicia providing for plumbing of the base in either of two positions depending on the direction of draft.

What has thus far been described is not new in the art and will be found further exposed in my copending application, Serial No. 658,393, filed 0, February 24, 1933, and. it will be appreciated that when properly mounted in either of the two positions and under the usual conditions, the shutter will float in partly opened positions automatically adjusting itself to provide the proper flow through the pipe to the end of which it is attached.

According to this invention I provide means for closing the shutter when desired. The principal parts of the device of the invention are a bracket 10, an arm 11 and an actuator 12.

The bracket 10 has an arcuate base part 13, by which it is secured to the shutter base 1, as by screws 14, the base 1 having a corresponding arcuate extension 15 for the purpose. The parts are so located on the base 1, that the bracket 10 overlies the long side B of the shutter and extends inwardly toward the shutter axis AA.

The actuator 12 is simply a chain or other equivalent freely flexible line having one end as at 16 secured with the shutter 2 opposite the end of the bracket 10. The bracket has an opening opposite the point of securement of the actuator 12 here shown as comprising an end pulley 17, an adjacent pair of pulleys 18 and a cover plate 19 arranged to maintain the actuator in the pulley grooves. The pulley arrangement is such as to lead the actuator from the shutter directly through the bracket opening provided between the pulleys and their shield 19, and maintain the actuator bearing on one of the pulleys 18 through a wide angle in a plane parallel to that of the base 1.

The arm 11 is mounted to swing in such a plane, about a pin 20 turned into the base 1 concentric of the arcuate base 13 of the bracket 10. The arm 11 extends from this axis with its free end adjacent the pulleys 18, where it is connected with the actuator 12. This connection is accomplished by a swivel 21 rotatably set into the end of the arm 11 as indicated Fig. 4, and having its face recessed as at 22 between a pair of curved flanges 23. These flanges 23 are spaced to receive the chain 12 therebetween and a cotter pin 24 is fitted in openings in the flanges, to receive a link of the chain 12 between its parts.

The length of the actuating chain 12 between its connection with the arm 11 and that with the shutter, is such that when the arm is in the central position shown Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the shutter will be free to open; while when the arm 11 is moved 90 from this position, as indicated Fig. 2, the shutter will be closed, the actuator bearing upon one or the other of the pulleys 18 during the closing motion of the arm 11 dependent upon which direction the arm is moved from its central position.

A hook member 25 is provided on the arm, engageable with an arcuate flange 26 on the bracket 10 to relieve the bearing at the pin 20 during this arm motion.

A torsion spring 27 coiled about the hub part 28 of the arm has crossed extremities 29 extending upwardly to bear on either side of the hook 25. A lug 30 is provided on the base 1 extending between these spring arms 29. The arrangement of the spring 27 and associated parts is such that the arm 11 will be yieldably maintained in its central position, that of Figs. 1, 3 and 4 but may be moved therefrom in either direction.

That the arm may be so moved by an operator from below the damper, the actuating chain 12 is extended downwardly below its connection with the arm, as at 12a.

That the arm 11 may be releasably secured in any of its three described positions, it is provided with a boss 31 about its center pin 20, the boss having three notches 32 engageable, by a dog 33 carried on the base 1 by a pin 34, by swinging motion into and out of registering notches, and urged toward the boss 31 as by a torsion spring 35.

The arrangement is obviouslysuch that if the dog engage the center notch 32 as shown Figs. 1, 3 and 4, the arm 11 will be immovable. That the arm may be released by the dog 33 from below, a chain 12b is secured with the free end 3'7 of the dog as by a cotter pin 38 engaging the chain in a suitable opening. As indicated, Figs. 1 and 2 the chain 1212 may be simply the extremity of the chain 12a, the chain being of length to provide a bight 120 within convenient reach of the operator.

Operation will be as follows, assuming the device mounted as in Fig. 1 and the arm 11 secured by the dog 33 in central position. The stretch of actuating chain 12 between arm 11 and the shutter may have bights at either side of the pulleys on the bracket 10 as at 12d and 12e. If the shutter has not been opened since movement of the arm 11 to its central position, the bight will be entirely at 12d, whereas if the shutter has widely opened since such adjustment of the arm 11, the bight will be entirely at 12c.

In any event the shutter is free for automatic self-adjustment.

When it is desired to close the shutter, the

latch dog 33 is released by a pull upon the chain end 12b and the chain end 12a is next pulled to move the arm 11 downwardly, clockwise Figs. 1 and 3, whereupon the chain 12b may be released. If the arm 11 has been thus moved 90 the latch dog 33 will snap into the registering notch 32 and again secure the arm, but in its new position. Such arm movement draws the actuator part 12 of the chain over the pulley 1'7 and lowermost pulley 18, pulling the damper to closed position. To release the damper for automatic operation all that is necessary is to release the latch dog 33 by a pull upon the chain 121: whereupon the spring 27 will return the arm 11 to its central position, that of Fig. 1, the latch dog automatically re-engaging the arm as this position is attained.

When the device is mounted with the shutter axis sloping in the opposite direction, as shown Fig. 2, the operation is exactly as before except that the arm 11 is now swung counterclockwise by a pull upon the chain 122:, and the other pulley 18 now being lowermost supports the chain part 12.

It will be observed that the bracket 10 and par ticularly its pulleyed opening, together with the arm 11, serve as guide means for supporting the actuator chain 12 clear of entanglement with any of the other parts, this being equally true reg'ardless of which arrangement of the device on its pipe be employed.

What I claim is:

1. In an automatic damper of the class described, and having an annular base adapted to be secured to the end of a pipe through which flow is to be controlled, and a shutter mounted in said base for free swinging movement iro'r'nthe plane thereof upon a sloping axis in said plane, means below said axis for closing the shutter at the will of the operator and including an actu ato'r associated with said shutter and guide means for said actuator arranged on said base en the side of said plane removed from said pipe;

2. In an automatic' damper of the class described, and having an annular base adapted to be secured to the end of a pipe through which flow is to be controlled, and a shutter mounted in said base for free swinging movement from the plane of said base upon a sloping axis in said plane, means below said axis for closing said shut ter at the will of the operator and including a flexible actuator associated with said shutter and guide means for said actuator and mounted on said base on the side of said plane removed from said pipe, said guide means comprising a fixed member in which said actuatorme'ans is movable, and a movable member with which said actuator is fixed.

3. In an automatic damper of the class described, and having an annular base adapted to be secured to the end of a pipe through which flew is to be contrelled, and a shutter mounted in said base for free swingingm'ovement from the plane thereof upon a slopi ng axis in said plane, means below said axis for closing said shutter at the will of the operator and including an actuat'er associated with said shutter and guide means fer said actuator and mounted on said base on the side of said plane removed from said pipe, said guide means comprising a fixed member in which said actuator means is mevable; and a movable member with which said actuator is fixed, said fixed member being arranged to be effective upon said actuator between said shutter able member.

and said mow ioo its

4. In an automatic damper of the class described, and having an annular base adapted to be secured to the pipe through which flow is to be controlled, and a shutter mounted in said base for free swinging movement from the plane of said base, means for closing said shutter at the will of the operator and including an actuator associated with said shutter and guide means for said actuator and mounted on said base at one side of said axis, said guide means comprising a fixed member in which said actuator means is movable, and a movable member with which said actuator is fixed, said movable member being arranged for movement in a fixed path in a plane parallel with said base, and said fixed member being arranged to be effective upon said actuator means between the said connections of the latter.

5. In an automatic damper of the class described, and having an annular base adapted to be secured to the pipe through which flow is to be controlled, and a shutter mounted in said base for free swinging movement from the plane of said base, means for closing said shutter at the will of the operator and including an actuator associated with said shutter and guide means for said actuator and mounted on said base at one side of said axis, said guide means comprising a fixed member in which said actuator means is movable, and a movable member with which said actuator is fixed, said movable member being mounted on said base for swinging movement in a fixed path in a plane parallel with said base plane, and said guide means being arranged between said planes, with its guiding part beyond the path of said movable member.

6. In an automatic damper of the class described, and having an annular base adapted to be secured to the end of the pipe through which flow is to be controlled, and a shutter mounted in said base for free swinging movement about an axis in the plane of said base in one direction from said plane, means for closing said shutter at the will of the operator and including an actuator associated with said shutter on that side of said axis in which the shutter moves inwardly of said pipe, and guide means on said base arranged to support said actuator on the side of said plane removed from said pipe.

'7. In an automatic damper of the class described, and having an annular base adapted to be secured to the end of the pipe through which flow is to be controlled, and a shutter mounted in said base for free swinging movement about an axis in the plane of said base in one direction from said plane, means for closing said shutter at the will of the operator and including an actuator associated with said shutter on that side of said axis in which the shutter moves inwardly of said pipe, and guide means on said base arranged to support said actuator on the side of said plane removed from said pipe, and said actuator comprising a flexible member, and said guide means comprising a fixed member in which said actuator is movable and a movable member with which said actuator is fixed.

8. In an automatic damper of the class described, and having an annular base adapted to be secured to the end of the pipe through which flow is to be controlled, and a shutter mounted in said base for free swinging movement about an axis in the plane of said base in one direction from said plane, means for closing said shutter at the will of the operator and including an actuator associated with said shutter on that side of said axis in which the shutter moves inwardly of said pipe, and guide means on said base on said side of said axis and arranged to support said actuator, said actuator comprisingfa flexible member, said guide means comprising a bracket mounted on said base and providing an opening in which said actuator is movable and located on said side of said axis, and an arm having a free end secured with said actuator and arranged to swing between a position adjacent said bracket opening and one removed therefrom.

9. In an automatic damper of the class described, and having an annular base adapted to be secured to the end of the pipe through which flow is to be controlled, and a shutter mounted in said base for free swinging 'movement about an axis in the plane of said base in one direction from said plane, means for closing said shutter at the will of the operator and including an actuator associated with said shutter on that side of said axis in which the shutter moves inwardly of said pipe, and guide means on said base on said side of said axis and arranged to support said actuator, said actuator comprising a flexible member, said guidemeans comprising a bracket mounted on said base and providing an opening in which said actuator is movable and located on said side of said axis, and an arm having a free end secured with said actuator and arranged to swing between a position adjacent said bracket opening and one removed therefrom, spring means associated with said arm to yieldably maintain it in the former position, and operator-operable means associated with said arm to move it from said position.

10. In an automatic damper of the class described, and having an annular base adapted to be secured to the end of the pipe through which flow is to be controlled, and a shutter mounted in said base for free swinging movement about an axis in the plane of said base in one direction from said plane, means for closing said shutter at the will of the operator and including an actuator associated with said shutter on that side of said axis in which the shutter moves inwardly of said pipe, and guide means on said base on said side of said axis and arranged to support said actuator, said actuator comprising a flexible member, said guide means comprising a bracket mounted on said base and providing an opening in which said actuator is movable and located on said side of said axis, and an arm having a free end secured with said actuator and arranged to swing parallel to the plane of said base in either direction to a shutterclosing position, from a position adjacent said bracket opening.

11. In an automatic damper of the class de scribed, and having an annular base adapted to be secured to the end of the pipe through which flow is to be controlled, and a shutter mounted in said base for free swinging movement about an axis in the plane of said base in one direction from said plane, means for closing said shutter at the will of the operator and including an actuator associated with said shutter on that side of said axis in which the shutter moves inwardly of said pipe, and guide means on said base on said side of said axis and arranged to support said actuator, said actuator comprising a flexible member, said guide means comprising a bracket mounted on said base and providing an opening in which said actuator is movable and located on said side of said axis, and an arm having a free end secured with said actuator and arranged to swing par-' allel to the plane of said base in either direction to a shutter closing position, from a position adjacent said bracket opening, and spring means associated with said arm to yieldably maintain it in said position. v 7

In an automatic damper of the class described, and having an annular base adapted to be secured to the end of the pipe through which flow is to be controlled, and a shutter mounted in said base for free swinging move- 'I'nent about an axis in the plane of said base one direction from said plane, means for closing said shutter at the will of the operator and including an actu'ator associated with said shutter on that side of said axis in which the shutter moves inwardly of said pipe, and guide means on said base on said side of saidaxis and arranged to support said actuator, said ac tuator comprising a flexible member, said guide means comprising a bracket mounted on said base and providing an opening in which said actuator is movable and located on said side of said axis, and an arm having a free end Se"- cured with said actuator and arranged to swing parallel to the pla'ne of said base in either di iection to a shutter-closing position, from a pos'ition adjacent said bracket opening, spring 'means associated with said arm to yieldably maintain it in said position, and means for releasably securing said arm in either of its said 'shutte'r closing positions.

13. In an automatic damper of the class described, and having an annular base adapted to be secured to the end of the pipe through which flow is to be controlled, and a shutter mounted in said base for free swinging movement about an axis in the plane of said base in one direction from said plane, means for closing said shutter at the will of the operator and including an actuator associated with said shutter on that side of said axis in which the shutter moves inwardly of said pipe, and guidemeans on said base on said side of said axis and arranged to support said actuator, said actuator comprising a flexible member, said guide means comprising a bracket mounted on said base and providing an opening in which said actuator is movable and located on said side of said axis, and an arm having a free end secured with said actuator and arranged to swing parallel to the plane of said base in either direction to a shutter-closing position, from a position adjacent said bracket opening, spring means associated with said arm to yieldably maintain it in said position, latch means for releasably securing said arm in either of its said shutterclosi'ng positions, and operator-operable ,means for performing said adjustments comprising a flexible member having one end secured with said arm and the other end with said latch means, with a bight within reach of the operator.

CLARENCE H. MORROW. 

